Blythe gets new court date

Still locked up: Randy Blythe

Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe will return to court in Prague on Thursday – three weeks after he was arrested for manslaughter after the death of Daniel Nosek at a 2010 concert.

But even though he posted $200,000 bail nearly two weeks ago, the new hearing won’t necessarily lead to a criminal charge or freedom.

A panel of judges will consider prosecutors’ objections to his release. However, if they decide in his favour, the prosecutors are allowed to challenge the new decision too. Under Czech procedural law this cycle can continue for up to six months.

Prague Post reported Jonathan Crane believes there’s not enough evidence to secure a conviction against Blythe, even if he was responsible for the incident that led to Nosek’s death from a brain haemorrhage a month after rushing the stage three times during a Lamb of God show. “Who is to say that Nosek wasn’t accidentally kicked or trodden on, or left without help by fans below the stage?” he asks.

Meanwhile, Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick has suggested anti-metal bigotry is the reason why Blythe’s case hasn’t become an international incident.

He describes the singer as “bookish, passionate, sort – someone that, like myself, is a nerdy intellectual oddball who just happens to be in a metal band.”

Skolnick continues: “It’s getting more difficult by the day to think of a friend unfairly locked away in a foreign jail, kept from family, liberty and life.

“This case is barely making a dent outside of Randy’s hometown of Richmond, Virginia. One can’t help wonder if prejudice against metal and its reputation could have something to do with this. As one fan posted on Twitter: ‘Justin Bieber gets speeding ticket and it’s headline news. Randy gets put up for manslaughter in another country – nothing.’

“One would like to think that being an American citizen comes with certain protection. And it would seem like being a four-time Grammy-nominated singer would help. Apparently not.”

Sign the White House petition calling on US authorities to act over Randy Blythe’s detention without charge after having posted bail